Patents by Inventor Richard C. Ernest

Richard C. Ernest has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5331757
    Abstract: A signholder assembly including a retaining bracket and a pair of clear, relatively flexible planar panels. Each of the panels has a face surface and is substantially identical to one another and adapted to be mated to one another and mounted along a bottom edge in the retaining bracket by the assembly. A U-shaped insert is provided having an upstanding medial wall which forms a pair of channels for receiving the panels, the wall provided with protuberant structure along opposite surfaces thereof arranged to frictional engage against the panels to hold them in place in the channels. The protuberant structure enable varying panel thicknesses to be installed in the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Crown Metal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Ernest, P. Paul Retzinger
  • Patent number: 5058300
    Abstract: A signholder subassembly for use with a retaining bracket and a pair of clear, relatively flexible planar pieces. Each of the planar pieces has a face surface and is substantially identical to one another and adapted to be mated to one another and mounted along a bottom edge in the retaining bracket by the subassembly. The subassembly includes an insert capable of holding the planar pieces and is mountable within the retaining bracket. A member is included for biasing the planar pieces toward one another to form a bearing surface therebetween and create a gripping action between the face surfaces of the planar pieces when they are mounted within the insert and the retaining bracket. A member also is included for restraining the insert within the retaining bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Crown Metal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Ernest, P. Paul Retzinger
  • Patent number: 4790093
    Abstract: A two-piece plastic signholder and subassembly therefor. The signholder includes a bracket having a floor and inclined bearing edges which bear against the assembled two substantially identical plastic pieces. The bracket and pieces are designed to provide a bias to ensure a top bearing surface between the upper portions of the two assembled pieces to securely hold signs therebetween. The pieces include positive engagement elongated mating slots and posts along the bottom edge of the pieces, which also include inner and outer inclined or angled bottom edge pieces and the pieces can be curved or warped toward one another to aid in the biasing of the pieces. The pieces alos include a stepped recess and flat support surface in the bottom edge to maintain contact between the bottom edge and the floor of the bracket to resist tipping from side blows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Crown Metal Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard C. Ernest, Burton L. Siegal
  • Patent number: 4726132
    Abstract: A two-piece plastic like signholder and subassembly therefor. The signholder includes a bracket having inclined bearing edges which bear against the assembled two plastic like pieces which are molded as mirror images of one another. The bracket and pieces are designed to provide a bias to ensure a top bearing surface between the upper portions of the two assembled pieces to securely hold signs therebetween. The pieces include positive engagement elongated mating slots and posts along the bottom edge of the pieces. The pieces also include inner and outer inclined or angled bottom edge pieces and the pieces can be curved or warped toward one another to aid in the biasing of the pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Crown Metal Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Richard C. Ernest